Concealed Carry

RossMatt

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Hello again to all:

I am sure I will get a few responses in this thread that i'd suspect - and hopefully more that I wouldn't...

Here we go...

5-shot 357/38

or

7 shot 22mag

??????
 
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For who?

Size - weight - age - ability (or disabilities)...

Both will do - I know a nice older lady that because of hand strength, can't shoot a 38 well, but will hammer a target with her S&W 651. It's the best choice for her.

Bob S.
 
sorta dual purpose.
Looking for something my wife is going to be able to shoot, as well as enjoy.
and a full time carry weapon for me

She is 5'2 125 lbs.
I am 6'1 185 lbs.

I am leaning towards the 22mag - not because of the stopping power, because surely I know a nice 38hp will perform better, but if a 38 snubby is bouncing all over the place for her in a bad situation, I'd rather her be more accurate with a less powerful round. and for me, although I don't have any problem with the recoil, a 22 mag sounds like a ton of fun.
 
Here's one of those answers you may not want.
Suggest she take the NRA pistol course and shoot several different types of handguns.
Then she can pick her own gun.

About a third of my women students tell me they had a gun bought for them that they don't like.
http://www.corneredcat.com/
 
Here's one of those answers you may not want.
Suggest she take the NRA pistol course and shoot several different types of handguns.
Then she can pick her own gun.

About a third of my women students tell me they had a gun bought for them that they don't like.
Cornered Cat

I agree - let her shoot as many as you can before deciding. I have a 4" model 651, and it's got very little recoil, but a very loud report.

Another option, look at the "new" 327 Mag. - You get 6 shots, and while full 327 loads are stout, you can load it with everything from 32 Short, 32 S&W long, 32 H&R Mag & 327 Mag.

I'm willing to bet she could handle it, and it should perform better than a 22 Mag.

Take care,
Bob S.
 
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how about a 4" 6 shot 44 mag.........hehehe

My ex loved .44 mag... She really liked the "slow" push type recoil of larger bullets (44 or 45) better than snappy little cartridges like 9mm or hot 38spl.

Just because gals are smaller than us guys doesn't mean they will automatically like a little "cute" gun.
 
My ex loved .44 mag... She really liked the "slow" push type recoil of larger bullets (44 or 45) better than snappy little cartridges like 9mm or hot 38spl.

Just because gals are smaller than us guys doesn't mean they will automatically like a little "cute" gun.

my 12 yr old daughter will shoot all the 250k's over 9gr of unique that I can load
 
my 12 yr old daughter will shoot all the 250k's over 9gr of unique that I can load

You know exactly what I mean! I thought you were being all macho by your remark, but you get it.

I've been lucky enough to introduce a number of gals to shooting. I like to just put a selection of guns out on the table and let them handle and dry fire and learn how to manipulate them. Then its pretty obvious to them which is their favorite.

Everyone likes a Model 65....
 
well, I went with the 32 H&R for my wife.

The recoil is very light, at least in my sp101, havent shot the 432 yet, but can bet its much better than my 38s even out of the light little revolver.

I just picked up a 327mag for the MIL, reason being she can shoot all the 32s and still have the 327 IF she can handle it.

Personally I like the 32 so much Im looking for another one for myself to replace my sp101.

The 32 isnt a bear stopper, but it will get the job done, very very underrated round.

This seems to be a common question, It pretty much comes down to how much she can control, NOT handle. by that I mean if one cant control the recoil enough to put the sights back on/another round in the target in a rather quick fashion then its too much gun, but on a side note this can be resolved by practice and training on technique.

example would be say a hot loaded 44mag, itll most likely knock a bad guy into the next time zone, I am sure I can handle the recoil just fine,but if I miss, how fast can you get the gun back on target.

Get her out shooting to see what she can do first, then go from there, lots of classes where the instructors furnish their own guns for the students to shoot, you just have to bring the ammo. Id look into it, Ive taken a few with my wife, it was fun and good info to learn.

Good luck
 
I've also taught a few dozen women to shoot, plus a lot of kids, and I still stress that the gun you can control and shoot rapidly beats the one that makes you flinch. That said, a 22 Mag is pretty blasty, and can induce a flinch as well as a harder-kicking gun. Get her some training, find a gun with grips and sights that work for her, and let her decide.

I worked with one tiny little woman, maybe 90 pounds, who has arthritis and hates recoil. We found that she could shoot 10's in rapid fire with a 3-inch 22LR, and she carries it daily. I wouldn't mess with her on a bet, she's been known to hit quarter-sized targets in DA fire at 15 yards. Her motto is "Two to the chest, and the rest go in the eye sockets."
 
Without regard to caliber, a rimfire is never a good choice for self defense. They aren't reliable enough.
 
Alright gents. Thanks for the comments. I appreciate the knowledge very much.
I'd like to take the question slightly deeper now...

S&W 642 pp

or

Ruger LCR 357

I have seen the cutting on old lcr's, and it has been remedied. Plus, if I go with the 357, the frame is steel. All looks good on the LCR front... but...
The 642 looks sweet for a little carry gun.

Both have night sights, both would be carried with good 38 ammo like a nyclad round or CD...

From what I can tell, price is about the same.

Thoughts?
 
All of the J-Frame rimfires I've handled lately had absolutely ghastly trigger-pulls. Not that centerfire J-frames are known for stellar triggers (when compared to larger frames), but it seems like the rimfire trigger weights were well up into the teens. That could make learning the gun just as difficult as the recoil from a .38. I don't know how light you can go with springs before rimfires won't pop.

Just something to consider.
 
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